Psychology, Ph.D.

Graduate

Concentrations in Developmental Psychology, Neuroscience, Perception/Cognition, and Social Psychology

Students entering the graduate program in psychology can take courses of study leading to a Ph.D. in psychology with specializations in developmental psychology, neuroscience, perception/cognition, and social psychology across a variety of research topics. A full listing of our graduate faculty and their respective areas of research interest may be found here.

Current research in developmental psychology addresses conceptual development, the evolution of threat perceptions, and the development and treatment of antisocial behavior. Training in developmental research involves laboratory-based child research paradigms, the application of eye tracker methodology, and longitudinal field study techniques.

Research in neuroscience offers training in neuroimaging methods, concepts, and experimental paradigms. The neuroimaging research focus includes studies in motion and event perception, learning and memory, and how humans process rewards and punishments.

The perception specialization offers training in the experimental study of motion and color perception as well as many advanced areas within vision science. Research in the area of cognitive science offers training in the computational and experimental study of cognitive processes. The curriculum provides basic instruction in computational and mathematical modeling methods, with a focus on connectionist systems, learning, memory, and categorization.

The social psychology concentration focuses on attachment theory, implicit aspects of stigma and prejudice, the mediation of social and interpersonal conflict, and the role of psychosocial resources in social interaction and perception.

Much of the research conducted in our department currently is supported by grants funded through federal, state, and private sources. Research in developmental psychology and neuroscience in particular has now been enhanced by the addition of observational equipment to the new Rutgers-Newark Child Care Center, and the acquisition of new, state-of-the-art imaging equipment in the Rutgers University Brain Imaging Center (RUBIC). Students also are encouraged to take advantage of training opportunities in the adjacent Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, the College of Business (Information Sciences), the School of Criminal Justice, the College of Nursing, the Department of Biological Sciences, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), and the New Jersey Institute of Technology as well as courses listed in related areas (such as linguistics, philosophy, or cognitive science) on the Rutgers-New Brunswick campus.

A written qualifying examination is given after the completion of basic course work at the end of the second year. Upon satisfactory completion of these requirements, students advance to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree and must submit a dissertation proposal, carry out their independent research, and then defend their dissertation.